[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 1, Chapters 1 - 6]
[Chapter 6.  Officers, Officials, and Employees]
[B. Speaker Pro Tempore]
[Â§ 13. House Approval]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 560-562]
 
                               CHAPTER 6
 
                   Officers, Officials, and Employees
 
                         B. SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
 
Sec. 13.--House Approval

    The House rules provide:

        [The Speaker] shall have the right to name any Member to 
    perform the duties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not 
    extend beyond three legislative days: Provided, however, That in 
    case of his illness, he may make such appointment for a period not 
    exceeding ten days, with the approval of 
    the House at the time the same is made. . . .(6)
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 6. Rule I clause 7 of the House Rules and Manual Sec. 633 (1973).
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    The approval of the House has been obtained by The Speaker pursuant 
to a unanimous-consent request where The Speaker, though not ill, 
wished to appoint a Speaker pro tempore who could serve beyond three 
legislative days(7) and to allow a designated Speaker pro 
tempore to sign enrolled bills during the period of his 
designation.(8)
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 7. See Sec. 13.1, infra.
 8. See Sec. 13.2, infra.
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    Because of this procedure's infrequent use in modern times it

[[Page 561]]

appears that a Speaker will more often invite the election of a Speaker 
pro tempore when the necessity arises, thus enabling him to sign 
enrolled bills and joint resolutions and vesting in him the fuller 
powers of an elected officer.(9)
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 9. See Sec. 14, infra.
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    The President and Senate are notified when a designated Speaker pro 
tempore has been given the approval of the House.(10)
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10. See Sec. Sec. 13.1, 13.2, 
        infra.                          -------------------
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House Approval of Designated Speaker Pro Tempore

Sec. 13.1 On rare occasions a Speaker, though not ill, will designate a 
    Speaker pro tempore and the House will approve the designation so 
    that the designated Speaker pro tempore may serve beyond three 
    legislative days.

    On Apr. 7, 1930,(11) Speaker Nicholas Longworth, of 
Ohio, designated a Speaker pro tempore to serve for a three-day period 
and ``thereafter'' until his return from a brief vacation.
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11. 72 Cong. Rec. 6661, 71st Cong. 2d Sess. See also  12.1, supra.
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        Mr. [Bertrand H.] Snell [of New York]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution and ask its immediate consideration.
        The Speaker: The gentleman from New York [Mr. Snell] offers a 
    resolution, which the Clerk will report.
        The Clerk read as follows:

            Resolved, That the designation of Hon. John Q. Tilson, a 
        Representative from the State of Connecticut, as Speaker pro 
        tempore be approved by the House and that the President and the 
        Senate be notified thereof.

        The Speaker: The question is on agreeing to the resolution.
        The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

Sec. 13.2 A designated Speaker pro tempore must be formally approved by 
    the House in order to sign enrolled bills during the period of time 
    of his designation.

    On Feb. 24, 1949,(12) the designated Speaker pro tempore 
John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, received the approval of the House 
in order that he might sign enrolled bills.
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12. 95 Cong. Rec. 1489, 81st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Mike] Mansfield [of Montana]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    privileged resolution (H. Res. 116) and ask for its immediate 
    consideration
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

            Resolved, That the designation of Hon. John W. McCormack, a 
        Representative from the State of Massachusetts, as Speaker pro 
        tempore be approved by the House, and that the President of the 
        United States and the Senate be notified thereof.

[[Page 562]]

        Mr. [Francis H.] Case of South Dakota: Mr. Speaker, will the 
    gentleman yield?
        Mr. Mansfield: I yield to the gentleman from South Dakota.
        Mr. Case of South Dakota: As I understand, this is the 
    customary resolution to meet a situation, so that bills may be duly 
    enrolled and presented for signature?
        Mr. Mansfield: The gentleman is correct.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: The question is on the resolution.
        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: The Chair requests the gentleman from 
    Montana [Mr. Mansfield] to administer the oath of office to the 
    Chair.
        Mr. Mansfield administered the oath of office as Speaker pro 
    tempore to Mr. McCormack.